Definition
Imagine you are on a jury for a court case involving a murder. After you take your seat, an attorney for the plaintiff, which is the party who filed the case, begins speaking to you. He tells you how the defendant, the party who allegedly committed the crime, has a history of violent acts. Moreover, he explains how the murder occurred. Finally, he explains a motive for why the defendant committed the murder; he further states that you will see this for yourself during the trial. After the plaintiff's attorney is finished speaking, the defendant's attorney begins telling you his side of the story. Ultimately, he indicates that the defendant did not commit the murder.
These two speeches are examples of opening statements. Opening statements are factual statements made by attorneys to explain the case. Opening statements are limited to the facts in the case. While one may provide legal theories, which are reasons for the defendant's actions, these statements may not be argumentative.
How Opening Statements Work
The plaintiff always provides their opening statement first, as this is the party with the burden of proof. The burden of proof is the standard that one must meet in order to prove their case. The defendant does not have to show that they are innocent; rather, the plaintiff must show that there is evidence to support the charges.
In a criminal case, where a defendant can face imprisonment, the plaintiff must show beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant committed a crime. Reasonable doubt means that it is not reasonable to believe that the defendant did not commit the crime; in other words, it would be illogical to assume that the defendant did not commit the crime.
On the other side of the coin are civil cases, where the consequence is limited to monetary fines known as damages. In a civil case, the plaintiff must show that the defendant is liable by a preponderance of the evidence. This is a lower standard of proof than in a criminal case. This standard means that the weight of the evidence shows liability.
